Hughes, sacked by Stoke in January, signed Shaqiri from Inter Milan in the summer of 2015. But it could be argued he played some of his best football for the Potters only after Hughes’ departure.

The Saints will certainly face competition for Shaqiri’s signature, with Tottenham, Everton and West Ham all interested in his services at that knockdown fee. And a decent World Cup for the 26-year-old could also make him hot property across Europe.

It seems Crystal Palace are about to call time on striker Christian Benteke by making him available for transfer this summer.

And that will come as a double blow for the 27-year-old after he was left out of Belgium's World Cup squad at the weekend.

The London Evening Standard reports: “Benteke scored just three goals last season and Palace want to recoup some of the £27m they paid Liverpool for him in 2016. Benteke could make a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League if he does leave.”

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Liverpool could be about to lose a member of their much-vaunted attacking trio… but it’s not 44-goal Mo Salah.

France Football are reporting that Sadio Mane had agreed a deal to join Real Madrid before Zinedine Zidane resigned as coach of the European champions last week.

And as it is seldom the coach who decides on the comings and goings at the Bernabeu, the Reds must fear that a deal could yet go through for the 26-year-old, even though he is under contract at Anfield until the summer of 2021.